“1When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) 3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. 4 And he must needs go through Samaria. 5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. 7There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. 8(For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) 9Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. 10Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. 11The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? 12Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? 13Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. “(John 4:1-14)
As Jesus attracts more followers, the Pharisees of Jerusalem grow wary and seek to seize him, as they similarly attempt with John the Baptist. Jesus therefore leaves for the Galilee. Along his journey, he stops in Sychar where he sees a Samaritan woman by the well and asks her to draw water for him. The woman is bewildered to hear a Jew speak to her, as there is animosity between their nations. Next, Jesus offers to give her “living water.” She is again perplexed, as the man offering has neither a rope nor a bucket. Jesus explains that what he is offering is divine water that permanently quenches the thirst of those who drink it. Spiritual work brings us satisfaction and fulfillment, while material gratification and void beliefs only create emptiness. Divine abundance never leaves a person thirsty or wanting, but rather empowers and imbues us with a sense of meaning. Each person, no matter their faith or status, is entrusted to become righteous, restore harmony to humankind, and share their abundance with the world.
Spiritual progress requires hard work; thoroughness means leaving no stone unturned.
